WORLAND — In a rush to dump their trash for free, Washakie County residents were flocking to the Worland landfill in anticipation of the tipping fees which took effect today.

“That’s not even the beginning of it,” Worland landfill manager Gene Claime said Monday. “On a normal Saturday, you have between 50 and 75 customers. This Saturday they had between 250 and 300. And today it’s been the same thing,”

Fortunately, Claime said he anticipated the extra customers and had additional help on hand this weekend through today.

“We’re doing fine because I had two guys working instead of just one,” Claime said.

The new fees are the result of the landfill being unable to remain solvent without assessing residents tipping fees. The district levies three mills and gets additional revenue from recycling for about $475,000.

While many customers aren’t pleased with having to pay to dump, for the most part, most customers are aware that the Worland landfill is among the last to begin assessing tipping fees, Claime said.

Worland residents will pay $15 per cubic yard for standard waste with nonresidents being assessed a $36.50 per cubic yard.